Busselton - East
Statistical Area - sa2

Busselton - East lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Busselton - East's population is approximately 10,324 as of November 2025. This represents an increase of 965 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 9,359. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates; the population was 10,029 in June 2024 and there were 448 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 126 persons per square kilometer. Busselton - East's growth rate of 10.3% since the 2021 census exceeds the national average of 8.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 35.4% of overall population gains, with other drivers such as interstate migration and natural growth also positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Future demographic trends project above median population growth for locations outside capital cities. Busselton - East is expected to grow by 1,755 persons to 2041, recording a total gain of 14.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Busselton - East among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Busselton - East has seen approximately 115 dwellings granted development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25576 homes were approved, with a further 25 approved in FY26 so far. Each new home attracted an average of 1.4 new residents per year over these five years, indicating a balanced supply and demand market that supports stable conditions.

The average construction cost value for new homes was $375,000, which is moderately higher than regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. This financial year has seen $40.7 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to the rest of WA, Busselton - East recorded 12.0% less building activity per person while ranking among the 92nd percentile nationally, indicating strong developer confidence despite recent intensification in construction activity. Recent development comprises 99.0% detached dwellings and 1.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes.

With around 69 people per approval, Busselton - East reflects a developing area with population forecasts indicating a gain of 1,458 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Busselton - East has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 12thth percentile nationally

Twenty projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly, including Home HQ Busselton, Busselton Health Campus Expansion, City of Busselton Local Planning Scheme No. 22, and Brown Street Busselton.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch assessment positions Busselton - East ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Busselton East has a skilled workforce with strong manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.2% in June 2025, similar to the Rest of WA's rate.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 6.2%. As of June 2025, 5,339 residents were employed, with healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation and food being the main sectors. The area has a notable concentration in accommodation and food, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing employ only 2.6% of local workers, below Rest of WA's 9.3%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.6, indicating above-normal employment opportunities locally. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 6.2%, labour force grew by 5.3%, leading to a 0.8 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. Rest of WA recorded lower growth rates during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued May 2025, project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Busselton East's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.0%% over five years and 12.8% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Busselton - East had a median taxpayer income of $49,188 and an average income of $64,961. Nationally, these figures are $57,323 (median) and $71,163 (average). In Rest of WA, they stand at $57,323 and $71,163 respectively. By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 14.2%, estimated median income is approximately $56,173 and average income is $74,185. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly in Busselton - East, between the 27th and 32nd percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 29.5% of residents (3,045 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, reflecting regional patterns where 31.1% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 25th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Busselton - East is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Busselton - East, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.7% houses and 10.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is similar to Non-Metro WA's figures of 89.8% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Busselton - East was 37.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.2% and rented dwellings at 27.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro WA's average. The median weekly rent was $360, also matching Non-Metro WA's figure. Nationally, Busselton - East had lower median monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and lower median weekly rents of $360 compared to the national figure of $375.

Busselton - East has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 71.3% of all households, consisting of 25.2% couples with children, 34.6% couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.7%, with lone person households at 25.9% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Busselton - East fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 18.0%, substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.5% and graduate diplomas also at 2.5%. Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 30.2%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education. Busselton - East's 3 schools have combined enrollment reaching 1,339 students while the area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 988) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 1 primary, 1 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. School places per 100 residents at 13.0 fall below the regional average of 16.5, with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis indicates 58 active public transport stops in the Busselton - East area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with 4 individual routes operating collectively to provide 341 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as limited, with residents typically located approximately 1077 meters from their nearest transport stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 48 trips per day, equating to roughly 5 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Busselton - East is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Busselton - East faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52%, higher than the average SA2 area (~5,358 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis (9.6%) and mental health issues (9.3%). A total of 65.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 69.5% in Rest of WA. The area has 21.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,188 people), higher than the 20.0% in Rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Busselton - East ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Busselton-East, surveyed in June 2016, showed lower cultural diversity with 78.5% of its population born in Australia, 87.9% being citizens, and 93.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 46.2%. Islam was overrepresented at 1.0%, compared to 0.4% regionally.

Top ancestry groups were English (36.1%), Australian (28.2%), and Scottish (8.0%). Notable divergences included South African (0.7% vs regional 0.6%), Dutch (1.6% vs 1.7%), and New Zealand (0.8% vs 1.0%).

Busselton - East hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Busselton - East's median age is 45 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of WA average of 40 years, and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 45-54 are particularly prominent, making up 14.2% of the population, while the 5-14 age group is comparatively smaller at 11.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 10.0% to 11.7%, and the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 11.2% to 12.5%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 14.4% to 12.1%, and the 5-14 age group dropped from 12.6% to 11.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Busselton - East, with the 25 to 34 cohort projected to grow by 51%, adding 612 residents to reach 1,822. In contrast, population declines are projected for those aged 85 and above, and the 15-24 age group.